Compounds that inhibit T cell proliferation and methods for using the same

Abstract

Compounds which display a surface similar to the surface presented by one of five distinct lateral domains of CD4 are disclosed. Methods of treating individuals suspected of suffering from or susceptible to conditions characterized by an undesired immune response comprising administering to the individual at least one compound which mimics a portion of the lateral surface of the CD4 glycoprotein are disclosed.

We claim: 
     
       1. A compound consisting of 20 amino acids or less including Lys-Glu-Glu; wherein said compound inhibits T cell proliferation. 
     
     
       2. A compound according to claim 1 comprising at least an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:20, and the reverse amino acid sequence.   
     
     
       3. A compound according to claim 1 that includes at least an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, and the reversed amino acid sequences.   
     
     
       4. A compound according to claim 1 wherein amino acids are D amino acids. 
     
     
       5. A compound according to claim 1 comprising less than 10 amino acids. 
     
     
       6. A compound according to claim 1 wherein said compound is circular. 
     
     
       7. A compound according to claim 1 further comprising amino acid sequence Pro-Gly-Pro. 
     
     
       8. A compound according to claim 1 comprising amino acid sequence CPGPEEKRNELEC wherein said amino acids are D amino acids. 
     
     
       9. A compound according to claim 1 that includes an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:2, the reversed amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, and the reversed amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.   
     
     
       10. A pharmaceutical composition comprising: a) a compound according to claim 1; and   b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.   
     
     
       11. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 10 wherein said compound comprises at least an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:20, and the reverse amino acid sequence. 
     
     
       12. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 10 wherein said compound includes at least an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, and the reversed amino acid sequences.   
     
     
       13. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 10 wherein said compound comprises D amino acids. 
     
     
       14. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 10 wherein said compound comprises less than 10 amino acids. 
     
     
       15. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 10 wherein said compound is circular. 
     
     
       16. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 10 wherein said compound further comprises amino acid sequence Pro-Gly-Pro. 
     
     
       17. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 10 wherein said compound comprises amino acid sequence CPGPEEKRNELEC and wherein said amino acids are D amino acids. 
     
     
       18. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 10 wherein said compound includes an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:2, the reversed amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, and the reversed amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.   
     
     
       19. A method of treating an individual suffering from or being susceptible to multiple sclerosis, graft rejection or graft versus host disease comprising the step of administering to said individual a pharmaceutical composition comprising: a) a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim 1; and   b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.   
     
     
       20. A method according to claim 19 wherein said compound comprises at least an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:20, and the reverse amino acid sequences. 
     
     
       21. A method according to claim 19 wherein said compound includes at least an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID. NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, and the reversed amino acid sequences.   
     
     
       22. A method according to claim 19 wherein said compound comprises D amino acids. 
     
     
       23. A method according to claim 19 wherein said compound comprises less than 10 amino acids. 
     
     
       24. A method according to claim 19 wherein said compound is circular. 
     
     
       25. A method according to claim 19 wherein said compound further comprises amino acid sequence Pro-Gly-Pro. 
     
     
       26. A method according to claim 19 wherein said compound comprises amino acid sequence CPGPEEKRNELEC and wherein said amino acids are D amino acids. 
     
     
       27. A method according to claim 19 wherein said compound includes an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:2, the reversed amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, and the reversed amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.